Well... you can ride any road bike in a CX race without converting it, if you want. You'll probably want for more traction and mud clearance, but there's certainly no rules against it.

A CX bike is, essentially, a road bike with clearance for bigger tyres and mud. That's the only reason why the brakes are different - because normal calipers won't fit over a 35mm knobbie tyre. Cantilevers have long been used when extra clearance is needed - on touring bikes with fat tyres (and often with fenders), then on early mountain bikes. Also, all the while, on CX bikes in Europe, before the English speaking world was let in on the secret.

If your road frame doesn't have mounts for cantilever brakes, you're going to have the same tyre/mud clearance issues regardless what type of caliper you fit. That's going to be your limitation.

Beyond that... CX bikes have evolved to fit a bit differently, but again, that's all about personal preference, not about rules and what's "allowed".

Within reason... yes. If it is for racing ... maybe, maybe not. Tyre clearance may be an issue... can you fit 30-35mm tyres.Mud clearance will be an issue... if it ever rains where you are.You won't be able to run canti brakes... so will be stuck with road brakes ( less power and little clearance ).Different geometry... CX frames have long rear triangles ( for stability ) and different geometry up front, may or may not be a big deal.Apart from that a CX frame is just a roadie frame... I have been training on my CX bike on the road this winter and just changing the tyres for the weekend races.

I made my Kona Dew flat bar into a ghettocross bike. Got some cheap bars off BNA, chucked on superannuated brifters from my roadie, and bought some cantis; I've forgotten the type, but some cantis will work with roadie brifters.

It worked OK until it was stolen after its first or second race. Not as good as my 105 level Merida Cyclocross 4 or my wife's Ultegra level Merida 5, but for my tastes it was good enough for CX fun and MUCH better as a commuter than in flat bar format.

From memory, the first Treadlie magazine had a write up on converting a bike for cyclocross. They used a Shogun Metro frame I'm pretty sure, which come with canti mounts and longer chain stays. They fitted some drop bars, bar end shifters and appropriate gearing, and off they went.

Shogun Metro's are great framesets in my opinion. The old steel ones that is. Very versatile.

winstonw wrote:The other point of difference is a CX has the front der cable run along the top tube to a top pull der....Cable running under the down tube will more regularly get fouled by mud.

I am tempted to change my bike to a top pull derailleur, my pulley system works well even in heavy mud but I am wondering if getting rid of it will stop mud accumulating around that area... a little bit anyway!. Plus Shimano CX70 derailleurs are better shaped for the smaller chain rings, not that I have much trouble with front changes.

Chris249 wrote:and bought some cantis; I've forgotten the type, but some cantis will work with roadie brifters.

I thought all canti's work with road brifters?... problem is you can't mount canti's to your standard road bike as there is no where to put them!.

Do'h....

You're right - now I remember that I fitted the cantis to replace the Vee brakes the bike had, so that the brifters would work the brakes. They were rather difficult to adjust because I couldn't get the adjustment barrels properly sorted.

Someone made bolt-on canti bosses but I'm not sure how good they are and whether they are still available.

here's some i did earlier... a hybrid (??) frame i found on kerb. Coulda been a Shogun..seen some similarities. I mated it to a generic canti fork, some old 7 speed roadie wheels and bars,mtb cantis and one bar-con shifter (1x7). I sold that and made: a MTB frame 700c'd with discs and ergo shifters (1x8). Yet to see its first race.Both ride/rode well...real well. They probably both needed to go on a diet, but so do I. Weight wasn't a factor...only $$$.

I have looked hard at converting a 'nice' road frame...a Kenevans at that, but as TLL says mud clearance is factor (for racing mostly). Ken will take 32mm CX tyre but with no clearance and i would have to braze on canti mounts....or a disc tab And their isn't much choice in 1 " canti forks on the market. Still thinking about it though.

Other option is ebay.nl dutchies go crazy for the mudplugging and there are tons of steel CX frames for sale. Once again value is in the eye of the beerholder. Both of these bikes have been built for less than $500...so i can buy more beer!